New Zealand nurses' standard of living

Scififan · Jan 9, 2004

Hi, welcome to our beautiful country in advance.

In fact you could probably get work anywhere in the country as we have the same nursing shortage as everyone else. Our pay is in fact pretty poor, I am a senior RN and am on $38,000, areas like Auckland have a high cost of living, so you might be having to tighten your belt somewhat if you're the sole earner, although I think the nurses in Auckland are on a higher rate of pay.

It depends alot on what your hubbies career is - do you have to be in Auckland?? I live in a reasonably small centre approx 60,000 pop, the cost of living is alot lower here so I think overall my standard of living is better than if I lived in a big city.

On the plus side nurses in NZ I think are finally ready to stand up and let govt. know that we deserve alot more for what we do, I often feel we are financially penalised for Nursing here. Industrial action is being planned. Alot of Nurses go to Australia etc to make more money. Then when you consider that our kiwi$ is worth alot less than USA$ it makes it even worse.

On the definite plus side, we have a small population 4million in fact which means clean air, wide open spaces etc etc, which is why I stay - having travelled overseas I really appreciate what we have here.

I hope I haven't put you off, after reading alot of posts here I think that pt ratios etc are better here, I moaned when I had six or god forbid seven pts, the norm is about 5 - I've read posts of people regularly having 7 or 8 pts and even going up to 10!!!

Anything else you want to know just ask, and if you want to check out our scenery watch Lord of the Rings - we're so proud!!

avsy · May 12, 2005

hi! i would like to know tha range of monthly salary for fresh RN? and monthly rent for an apartment?

Kiwi Ali · May 31, 2005

Pay rates from 1-7-05: (per annum) divide by 2086 for hourly rate.

Step 1 - 37000 (new grad)

Step 2 - 41200

Step 3 - 44000

Step 4 - 46180

Step 5 - 50000

Nurses scoped as senior (Clinical Nurse Educators, Charge Nurses, Specialist nurses) will be on higher than Step 5. (up to $65000 I believe)

And if you do a PDRP (Professional Development Recognition Portfolio) at Proficient or Expert level you get $2500 or $4000 respectively on top of your base salary.

Hope that helps :-)

Alison

nrlevart · Jul 28, 2005

Melissa,,,, I am also a CA RN wishing to travel to NZ next fall. Can you tell me what a typical day of nursing is like for you in NZ.....I am an ICU RN but would also work step-down or tele. Any info appreciated.

Thank you,

Nancy

Jhen · Sep 5, 2007

Hi! I'm a RN in my country but is already waiting for approval there in NZ. I was hoping to be bound to NZ by october. I wonder what is the cost of living in wellington? How is nursing there in NZ in a nursing home and a hospital? Thanks so much!

joeturtle · Sep 6, 2007

Hello folks,
I'm a Californian who is in the process of getting my license in NZ and planning to emigrate next year (after the US elections). The recruiters think I'll get work in the Auckland area.
I have a family (2 little kids) and am wondering if it is possible to live off of a nurses' salary while my husband is job hunting (he's a journalist) or is the cost of living too high. The salary I was quoted (30 - 40K NZ) is low compared to California (60-80K US)
Are kiwi nurses able to enjoy a life or is it a constant struggle to get by?
any feedback would be helpful,
Melissa

Just curious, what made you decide to migrate to NZ from the USA?

I'm also in the processs of completing my NCNZ application and hoping to go there early next year.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 6, 2007

Just curious, what made you decide to migrate to NZ from the USA?
I'm also in the processs of completing my NCNZ application and hoping to go there early next year.

this post is a few years old and the OP only posted a couple of posts and probably hasn't been on the site for a while